THE EUROPEAN UNVESTIGATION COUNCIL (ERC) PUBLISHES ITS PROGRAM OF WORK FOR 2016.

The main activity of the European Research Council is to finance researchers and their research groups with ambitious projects on the frontier of knowledge, in any discipline in the field of science, engineering or teaching.

The ERC places special emphasis on the frontiers of science, erudition and engineering. In particular, it encourages interdisciplinary proposals that cross the boundaries between different fields of research, pioneering proposals that address new and emerging research fields or proposals, the introduction of innovative unconventional approaches and scientific inventions.

So the four main grants planned in its 2016 budget are:

ERC Starting Grants: funds excellent researchers who are starting their own research team. Applicant Principal Investigators must demonstrate the innovative nature, ambition and viability of their scientific proposal. The maximum financing is € 1,500,000 for 5 years. The call ends in November 2015.

Consolidator Grants: Finances up to € 2,000,000 to researchers who have obtained their doctorate with an experience of between 7 and 12 years. The call scheduled for October 2015 will end in February 2016. This has a budget of 605 million euros.

Advanced Grants: In this case, researchers are already funded as leaders of a research center with a recognized path of achievement in research. They will be financed with a maximum of € 2,500,000 for a period of 5 years. The call will be opened in May 2016 and will have 540 million euros.

Proof of Concept Grants: finance projects already funded by ERC from which new business opportunities or social applications have arisen. A maximum of € 150,000 will be given for a period of 18 months. The call that will start in October will have three deadlines in February, May and October 2016.

Calendar of calls foreseen in the ERC 2016 program. August 2015-December 2016